there is a great difference between Christ's offering up himself by the Eternal Spirit a Lamb without Spot to God and the Acts of wicked Men inflicted upon him as 't is said by wicked hands they put him to death The Merit Deserving Dignity or Worth is placed upon Christ's Obedience in offering up himself and humbling himself to the Death of the Cross for Man's Redemption as intimated in the consequence Wherefore God hath highly exalted him Phil. 2. 9. Therefore the Merit or Deserving was not placed upon the Soldier 's Act of thrusting the Spear into his side and letting out his Blood thereby after he had given up the Ghost John 19. 33 34. But upon the Obedience of the Son of God even unto the Death of the Cross as that most acceptable Sacrifice for the Sins of the World Christ's deserving such high Exaltation into Dominion and Glory through his Obedience in Suffering was for the bringing many Sons to Glory Heb. 2. 10. consequently That in following him we might be received into Glory as they who Suffer with him shall be glorified together Rom. 8. 17. and this no ways interferes with nor varies from Our Sincere Belief of Salvation and Justification by Jesus Christ his Righteousness Merits and Works and not by our own Christ as our Mediator and the one Offering has obtained Justification Remission and Pardon of Sins and Eternal Redemption for us which he makes us partakers of by his Work of Righteousness and Sanctification in us so that both Christ's Obedience Deservings and Dignity without us and his works within us are concerned in our Salvation and Justification which his Light and Spirit Leads us to the living Knowledge and Experience of as We sincerely obey and follow the same for the Apostle describes both the washing Sanctification and Justification of true Converts to be in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. Therefore I hope it will be no reproach to W. P. or any else to be in conjunction with G. W. in this point as he is accused p. 14. namely That our Justification and Salvation is not Effected wholly without us as if there were no need of the Spirit 's work within us for our Regeneration and Sanctification all which is Christ's work being done by his Spirit and Power which consequently does no ways lessen his Dignity Glory and Honour wherewith he was crowned through the Suffering of Death that he might bring many Sons after him unto Glory Heb. 2. 9. Again the Rector quotes G. Whitehead in Counterfeit Convert printed 1694. p. 17 18. That it is the Light and Life within in which is the Immediate and Efficient cause of Man's Salvation And as for the Sufferings and Death of Christ in the Flesh they do but instrumentally contribute thereunto The Rector to abuse me Partially cites me in this place as if I ascribed Salvation to a Light and Life within without Christ or not to Christ for what else could he design in bringing this Quotation to confront or oppose our Confession before cited to Salvation by Jesus Christ And where do I say in which i. e. in the Light and Life within is the Immediate and Efficient cause of Man's Salvation as if I should say something in the Light and Life of Christ were the Immediate cause of Man's Salvation and not the Light and Life of Christ it self this Rector would fain make me speak Non-sence as well as Blasphemy But by our confessing to the Light and Life of Christ within as the Immediate and Efficient cause of Man's Salvation from Sin and Condemnation we do neither divide Christ nor make two Christs nor yet by confessing his Suffering and Death in the Flesh as a means of God's appointment instrumentally to contribute thereunto He being The Mediator of the New Covenant that by means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Testament or Covenant they which are called might receive the Promise of Eternal Inheritance Heb. 9. 15. and as it was by means of Christ that true Christians believe in God who raised him up from the Dead and gave him Glory and Honour that their Faith and Hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1. 20 21. So if Christ our Mediator be the Means the Cause and Great Instrument of our Faith and Salvation and his Death the Means of our Redemption and Remission of Sins in his Blood It can be no dishonour to him to confess his Sufferings and Death in the Flesh instrumentally to contribute to our Salvation and that Christ himself by his Light and Life in us is the Immediate and Efficient cause thereof thereby fulfilling and confirming in us the blessed and holy Design and Ends of his Sufferings and Death for us I am not ashamed of my Testimony for Christ in this matter and give it here more truly than my Adversary has done out of the place quoted out of Counterfeit Convert p. 18. viz. That Christ the Promised Seed through Death was to bruise under and destroy him that had the Power of Death viz. The Devil yet he effectually doth it by his divine Power Light and Life as the Immediate and Efficient cause of Man's Salvation wherein we still confess his Sufferings and Death in the Flesh instrumentally to contribute thereunto Christ Jesus as the Promised Seed who came of a Woman made under the Law bruised the Serpent's Head both without us and within us without us through his Sufferings and Death by his divine Testimony Word and Power within us by his Divine Life Light Word or Seed Spirit and Power which is all but one Christ himself not two Christs nor to be divided Else how could we be born again of Incorruptible Seed Or how doth that Seed remain in him that 's born again And is not that Seed Christ And is not the Word of Faith Christ in Spirit See 1 Pet. 1. 23. 1 John 3. 9. Rom. 10. 6 7 8. Now where 's the Venom charged in all this Doctrine When true and full Recitations are given of our Words how plain does the Truth thereof appear But when our Adversaries give their perverted minced and false Citations thereof to traduce us as Venomous in Doctrine as this angry Rector has frowardly and frequently done How cloudy do they make them and us look But Truth will work thorow and over all this dust and cloudy stuff they cast upon us To what he quotes against Tho. Lawson his Untaught Teacher printed 1655. p. 4 5. Against looking for Salvation from a means without and seeking a way to Salvation without p. 15. I have not the Book quoted but am apt to think T. L's unfairly or not fully cited in this place let the Rector produce a fair and full Recitation However I really believe upon our Principle that T. L. meant no other than that as Salvation from Sin is an Inward and Spiritual Work of Christ Men must expect and wait
Yes verily we believe and own Christ not only as he is the Light of the World enlightning every Man coming into it but also that he is given for a Leader and for a Commander And that he is both King Priest and Prophet to and over his Church and People He is the Minister of the Sanctuary which the Lord Pitched and not Man and we are to hear him in all things On this the Rector observes viz. This Profession of theirs if Sincere would indeed comprehend a great part of the Christian Religion but if the above Quotations be true they will give you just cause to suspect them even in this p. 19. By this our Profession is granted as comprehensive of a great part of Christian Religion and our Sincerity therein is known to God who judgeth Righteously and we may not submit it to this Person 's Prejudice or unjust Judgment and Quotations wherein his Falseness and Partiality are in a great measure already detected And what he now quotes against our said Profession out of Tyranny and Hypocrisie detected p. 19. of S. E's declaring G. F. Blessed be the Man that came out of the North c. And a Letter said to be writ by Josiah Coale from Barbadoes to G. F. in 1658. which this Person saith is Justified by W. Penn in his Judas and the Jews p. 44 45 46. We have heard often of this Letter of J. C's and of W. P's Vindication thereof but I find no Reply from this Rector to Refute W. P. therein nor yet any Proof therefrom of our Insincerity in what we profess as aforesaid for our believing the Divine Offices of Jesus Christ in and over his Church for though G. F. was truly esteemed among us as a Faithful Minister of Christ and a Father in him unto many in the Faith and an Heir of Christ's Kingdom yet this was never to Wrest the Scepter out of Christ's Hand as is falsly insinuated by this Rector and his Author Edward Pay a Teacher of the Anabaptists whose Authority is quoted against us p. 19 20. See what hard Shifts this Man is put to for Authority against us for all his Learning I may refer him in this Case to my Answer to Edward Pay Entituled The Contemned Quaker and his Christian Religion defended p. 81 82. Wherein I tell him that his Charge is very high against two Persons deceased who I believe ended their Days in Peace and that I have cause to question whether the said Letter be truly and intirely copied or cited from the Original and what Persons that are no Parties nor Adversaries to us will attest thine to be a true and intire Copy according to Josiah Coale's original Letter c. I doubt not but I can clear that Honest Man Josiah Coale from giving any Blasphemous Titles as charged and that from his own printed Testimonies and G. F. also from receiving such by his known publick Christian Profession and Confession unto Christ Jesus both as God and Man according to the Holy Scriptures And concerning the other Pamphlet Tyranny and Hypocrisie also quoted by this Rector against us it is a Malicious Libel without the Author's Name yet so far given credit unto against us to asperse and traduce us though fully answered long ago by W. P. c Thus hard put to it is this Rector to find and rake up Matter against our Christian Profession of Christ his Divine Offices c. And therefore 1st His calling G. F. the King of the Quakers p. 20 21. is a Scornful Falshood that 's none of our Profession but that Jesus Christ is our King Priest and Prophet who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 2. As also his accusing G. F. with depriving Christ of his Kingly Office and assuming it to himself p. 21. is another notorious Falshood and Calumny for he was a Minister or Servant of Jesus Christ and so he owned himself to be consequently unjustly charg'd with depriving Christ of his Kingly Office and assuming it to himself Neither did I ever say or intend any such thing of G. F. though I am here quoted in Innocency against Envy p. 18. as plainly intimating It is not G. F. but the Light or Christ within him that assumes this Kingly Power p. 21. I do not know that I used these words or plainly intimated this in behalf of G. F. nor needed I so excuse him from that which he was never justly chargeable with as depriving Christ of his Kingly Office or assuming the same to himself Neither was it proper or pertinent for me to say That the Light or Christ within assumes this Kingly Power p. 21. 'T is Christ's Right to Rule and Reign both as King and Law-giver and his being in us by his Light and Spirit does not lessen his Power Dignity or Glory he hath in himself And it follows not that because Christ who is King is in us That every Quaker is a King because every Quaker has the Light within as this Priest argues p. 21. I wish he would speak more Reverently of the Light within and of Christ within which if he obeys not will be his Condemnation it 's they that obey Christ the Light and suffer with him that shall Reign with him and not every one in whom Christ or his Light appears for too many Rebel against the Light and will not that Christ should Reign over them What he quotes against G. F. Jun. p. 50. speaking in the Name of the Light is answered in the other Examination and no disowning but a real owning of Christ's Kingly Office as he is the Light and Judge of the World The Rector insinuating against us A Denial of the Priestly Office of Christ and also his Humanity p. 22. is as false as the rest of his Calumnies Where did ever we deny Christ as the one Mediator betwixt God and Man even the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. How often have we confess'd him as such His saying the Quakers tells you that Christ was never seen with Carnal Eyes c. quoting H. Woolrich's Declaration to the Baptists p. 13. I have not that Declaration but it has been answered that he meant the True Christ is not seen Savingly with Carnal Eyes nor though the Jews saw his Body or Person outwardly they did not see him Spiritually and Savingly as his Disciples did who saw his Glory as of the only Begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Christ saith He that seeth me seeth my Father also in which sence of seeing he was never so seen with Carnal Eyes no more than the Father was Again 't is objected against us That we teach that Christ has no Body but his Church quoting Jos. Coale's Works p. 332. This is falsly charged both against us and falsly cited against Josiah Coale for first We do not so Teach 2. Though J. C. confesseth the Church to be the Body of Christ in the place quoted he also confesseth Christ's glorious Body
like unto which his Body the Church shall be fashioned saying That Affliction did still attend these Members of Christ's Body and that this Body i. e. the Church though not free as yet from suffering Afflictions yet shall be fashioned like to his glorious Body J. C ' s p. 332. So that he owned Christ to have a glorious Body above that of his Members Therefore it appears neither from hence nor yet from this Rector's unjust Charge or false Quotation that the Quakers deny the Mediator the Man Christ Jesus as he falsly saith much less that they do Scornfully Contemn the Blood of Christ p. 23. as they are grosly Calumniated and Slandered What he cites against E. B. and W. P. p. 23 24. is answered in the foregoing Examination And as to Christ's Prophetick Office we are satisfied that we own it more than these our Adversaries in that we believe we ought to hear him in all things by his Light Word and Spirit in our Hearts for which they so much slight and contemn us opposing his Immediate Revelation Teaching and Ministry in these days and confining his present Ministry to the Scriptures in opposition to his Light and Immediate Teaching in Man for though Christ did frequently preach from Scriptures yet his Preaching was with Power and Efficacy he had power both to open the Scriptures and the Understandings of them that heard him in opening them and also so to touch their Hearts that they said Did not our Hearts burn within us while he spoke unto us Which Mens meer literal Preaching cannot do nor work those Effects We are to hear Christ in all things him that speaketh from Heaven but saith the Rector they i. e. the Quakers neither do nor will hear him no their Christ within which they are obliged to tells them other things than our outward Christ or Prophet does p. 24. What an Ignorant and Scornful Reflection and Abuse is this as if either we owned another Christ within than the true Christ and Prophet whom we are to hear which is a false Insinuation or else that Christ as within and Christ as without is not one and the same Christ which is false also neither is Christ divided though he be both without and within And where proves this Rector that the Scripture is the Touch-stone to try Spirits withal wherein he takes part with Mat. Caffin the Anabaptist Preacher his affirming the same against the Quakers p. 25. Christ said Have Salt in your selves and discerning of Spirits was the Gift of the Spirit without which none can truly understand or make use of the Scripture If Tho. Lawson said The Scripture is not the Tryer of Spirits as 't is alledged against us p. 25. I find no Scripture produced to prove this Erroneous Christ is the Great Judge and Tryer of Spirits who searches and tryes the Heart and the Reines and it is by his Light and Spirit that Spirits must be tryed and judged not by the Carnal but by the Spiritual Man And what the Rector again cites out of p. 7. against studying to raise a living thing out of a dead and the Spirit out of the Letter c. was never intended to oppose the Teaching of Christ's Prophetick Office for his Office never allowed any such Study Neither do the Quakers deny Christ's Gospel Ordinances which are really such and by him perpetuated Here the Rector imposes upon us and his Allegations fall short of proof And our not continuing under a Literal and Shadowy Dispensation of Types and Figures carnal Ordinances and outward Element but under a Spiritual Ministry is rather an Indication of our owning Christ's Offices his Gospel his Ministry or Dispensation than any refusing to hear him who speaketh from Heaven by his Holy Spirit Light and Grace in Mens Hearts What seems most materially objected hitherto in the Rector's Antidote being answered I may take notice of some Passages hereafter farther to shew what he falsly deems Venom of Quakerism according to his Title and Observations against our Profession Quest. Do you believe or own Baptism as Essential to Christianity or necessary to Salvation and for the ingrafting us into Christ and his Church Our answer is We believe and are fully perswaded That Baptism which is Essential to Christianity and the Saving Baptism or the Cause without which none can be true Christians or Saved is the Inward or Spiritual Washing of Regeneration by the Word of Life This is the Saving Baptism into Christ and his Church which produceth the Answer of a good Conscience towards God of which the outward was a Figure 1 Pet. 3. 21. This is that One Baptism of Christ by One Spirit into that One Body whereof Christ is the Head As to Dipping or Sprinkling Infants or young Children we find no Precept or President in Holy Scripture for the Practice thereof and therefore we cannot think our not-believing it Essential or necessary to Salvation or making Christians a sufficient Argument to prove us no Christians unless it can be proved that none are Saved without it and that all are Saved that have it Considering also what 's positively affirmed in the 39 Articles as in the sixth Article That whatsoever is not read in the Holy Scriptures nor may be proved thereby is not to be required of any Man that it should be believed as an Article of the Faith or be thought requisite or necessary to Salvation And in the 20th Article That the Church ought not to decree or enforce any thing against or besides Holy Writ to be believed for necessity of Salvation And in Article 21 That things ordained by General Councils as necessary to Salvation have neither Strength nor Authority unless that they be taken out of Holy Scripture On the first part of this Profession the Rector makes this Observation against us viz. By this their Answer they i. e. the Quakers do not Insinuate to but plainly tell the World what Baptism it is that is essentially necessary to Salvation or making Christians that is the Inward or Spiritual Washing of Regeneration by the Word of Life the Washing or Cleansing of the Heart or an Inward Conversion to God p. 26 27. And herein we plainly tell the World the plain Truth according to Holy Scripture And what Venom is in this pray Had not this Rector need to be severely corrected for opposing this Doctrine as Venomous and making the outward Baptism by Water the Saving Baptism and not the Inward and Spiritual As if all the World of Mankind were in a State of Damnation who are not so outwardly Baptized with Water or could be no Christians nor Saved if they be not so Baptized or Rantized as he would have them this is like Dip or Damn Oh! uncharitable and unchristian Doctrine Has Salvation by Grace been preached so long among us and must it now be placed on Works or on such a superficial Work as that of outward Baptism Sprinkling Dipping or Plunging Persons in Water But
stand here which shall not tast of Death till they have seen the Kingdom of God come with Power The like in Luke 9. 27. All which shew the Kingdom Then near to come even in their days consequently the Saints partaking of the Blessing thereof was and is in their Life time wherein they partook even of the Spiritual Supper of the Lord the Spiritual Meat and Drink at Christ's Table in his Kingdom wherein the Substance and Fulness of all Types and Shadows consists and whereof every true Spiritual Christian is partaker By all which 't is Evident that there is just Cause to consider the Lord's Supper in the Substance and Mystery of Christ and that his Kingdom wherein the same is Spiritually received ought not to be put afar off nor true Believers excluded out of it until Christ's Last Coming at the End of the World and the Resurrection in the Great and Last Day Neither ought poor Souls to be left starving and famishing under Shadows and a barren Ministry until then for that can be no Glad Tidings or true Gospel to them therefore all had need to be careful and take heed that they don't famish their poor Souls by neglecting the Substance and feeding upon Shadows And that the Bread and the Cup which Christ gave at his Supper were a Figure or Typical was confessed by divers Eminent Martyrs as John Frith in his Reasons upon the Sacrament treating of Christ the Promised Seed saith Likewise the same Promise was made unto Moses the most meek and gentle Captain of the Israelites which did not only himself believe upon Christ which was so often promised but also did prefigurate him by divers Means both by the Manna which came down from Heaven and also by the Water wich issued out of the Rock for the refreshing the Bodies of his People Neither is it to be doubted but that both Manna and this Water had a Prophetical Mystery in them declareing the very self-same thing which the Bread and the Wine do now declare unto us in the Sacrament For thus saith St. Augustine Wbosoever did understand Christ in the Manna did eat the same Spiritual Food that we do but they which by that Manna sought only to fill their Bellies did eat thereof and are Dead On the Margent it is Manna the Water of the Rock a Figure of Christ's Body Bread and Wine a Figure likewise of Christ's Body 1 Cor 10. See 2 Vol. Martyrs p. 305. printed 1641. And Dr. Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury confesseth Christ's Speech i. e. This is my Body to be Figurative and quoting Ambrose in 1 Cor. 11. he calleth the Bread and the Cup Signs a Type Figure or Sign of the Blood of Christ and of his Benefit in his Disputations in Oxford Vol. 3. Mar. p. 59. And p. 54. Ibid. he saith The Flesh liveth by Bread but the Soul is inwardly Fed by Christ. And Dr. Ridley Bishop of London in his Disputation at Oxford saith And as one of the Fathers saith a Figure is in vain where the thing signified is present Ibid. p. 74. And p. 75 76. In Opposition to the Popish Doctrine of Transubstantiation he saith The sayings of the Fathers declare it to be a Figurative Speech as appeareth in Origen Tertullian Chrysostom in Opere Imperfecto Augustine Ambrose Basil Gregory Nazienzen Hilary and most plainly in Bertram The rest of the Rector's Observation relating to Baptism Bread and Wine pag. 37 38. is answered in the Just Examination of the Two Books of the Three Norfolk-Priests Quest. Do you believe and own the Holy Scriptures contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration and to contain all Matters of Doctrine and Testimony necessary to be believed and practis'd in order to Salvation and Peace with God Answ. Our Answer is Yes we do and by the assistance of the Grace and good Spirit of God which gives the true Understanding of the Mind of God and Meaning of Holy Scripture we always desire to live in the Faith Knowledge and Practice of them in all things appertaining to Life and Godliness Holy Scripture being given by Divine Inspiration is profitable for Doctrine Correction and Instruction that the Man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto every good Work able to make the Man of God Wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus In the Observation made upon this our Profession the Rector is pleas'd to question the Sincerity thereof which he leaves to the World and the Reader to judge p. 39 42. But our Sincerity is known to the Lord to whom we commit our Cause And being prejudg'd by this pretended Rector we shall not leave it to him to be Judge over our Sincerity or Conscience towards God For being all along Prejudicate in his Observations he had need to be corrected for his Vncharitableness and Censoriousness The first Instance he gives to disprove our Sincerity is a Quotation of some Quakers out of the Quakers Refuge p. 17. against John Whitehead and Robert Ruckhill Whether the first Penman of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes c. With other Questions which are answered over and over in divers of our Books and particularly in my late Examination entituled Truth and Innocency p. 57. wherein 't is made evident that those Questions did not arise from any Doubts or Scruples in the said John Whitehead or R. R. but in some others and therefore waved as not the Subject of R. R's Argument who recited them in the said Quakers Refuge Consequently very unjustly quoted against the Quakers to render them Insincere in the same Confession to the Truth of the Holy Scripture as given by Divine Inspiration What the Rector quotes against E. Burrough G. F. W. P. G. W. c. in p. 40 41 42. concerning the Scriptures and the Word of God c. is also answered in the said Examination p. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 and p. 58. I cannot but take notice how Credulous as well as Envious this Rector appears in repeating Fra. Bugg's Old Lie to defame us bidding the Reader See Lawson's Threefold Estate of Anti-christ p. 9. The Scripture is Dust and Death Beastly Wares c. p. 41. I would ask this Rector whether he has seen these very Words in the place quoted Or if he has ever read the said Lawson's Threefold State of Anti-christ If he says he has I 'm sure he is guilty of a notorious Lie in this Quotation for there is not a word of calling the Scripture Beastly Ware c. But Babylon's Merchants selling Beastly Ware for a large Price c. p. 9. And if he received this Quotation upon Credit from F. Bugg he is very Vnjust and Immoral therein in receiving and promoting such a Reproach against his Neighbours to defame them which Offence is justly Condemn'd by the righteous Law of God Another apparent Abuse I find against Samuel Fisher his Appendix p. 752. Printed 1679. by
within And the Book will be opened in thee he puts IN THEE in Capital Characters as if it were a Crime or Error to own the Lamb of God to have a Throne or Dominion in Man or the Light within to be Judge of every idle Word Which still bespeaks a secret Enmity against the Light and as if the Light were neither to Judge nor to Record Mens Actions in the Book of Mens own Consciences whereas the contrary is evident if they will search and examine their own Consciences and be willing to bring their Deeds to the Light in them that they may be manifest proved and Judged For every one that doeth Truth cometh to the Light and bringeth his Deeds to the Light that They may be manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. And 't is certain that there is a Record made of Mens Iniquities even in their Hearts and Consciences by the true Light as the Sin of Judah was graven upon the Table of their Heart Jer. 17. 1. And without true Repentance it will not be blotted out of that Record but will remain unto the Great Day of Judgment and final Recompence of Rewards when the Books shall all be opened and the Dead Judged out of those things written in the Books every Man according to their Works Rev. 20. So that the Judgment given and the Record made in Mens Consciences by the true Light even in this Life will not wear out nor be made void but remain unto the Last Judgment of the Great Day to come to the great Joy of the Righteous and Shame Contempt and Misery of the Wicked and finally Impenitent who live and die in their Sins As it is testified in Job 21. 30. That the Wicked is reserved to the Day of Destruction they shall be brought forth to the Day of Wrath. And Christ spoke of such as would not receive his Ministers nor hear their Words Verily I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that City Matt. 10. 15. compare with Chap. 11. 22 24. and Mark 6. 11. and Luke 10. 12 14. All which signifie a Day of Judgment to come And as it is appointed unto Men once to die but after this the Judgment Heb. 9. 27. As also the Apostle Peter speaks of the Day of Judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men 2 Pet. 3. 7. And also 2 Pet. 2. 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the Unjust to the Day of Judgment to be punished And Jude v. 6. And the Angels which kept not their first Estate or Principality but left their own Habitation he hath reserved in Everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the Great Day In which Great Day it will fully appear that the Judgment given and the Record made in Mens Consciences by the Light is true and will stand for ever against the Wicked the willful Unbelievers and finally Impenitent And that there is no Opposition nor Contradiction between the present Judgment of Christ in Mens Hearts and Consciences and that which is to come That the Soul of Man though created is Immortal and never dies This we still believe and confess and what the Rector quotes as he supposes against it out of G. F. his Great Mystery and W. Penn's Brief Answer p. 47. if rightly considered and compared will not make void our Belief and Profession which I have answered and explained over and over and so has W. P. by his Distinction between the Breath or Spirit of Life which God breathed into Man and Man himself who thereby became a Living Soul Consequently the Soul of Man is created as well as Man being included in the Being of Man as the more Noble and Spiritual part inspired by the Divine Breath or Spirit of Life whereby Man became a Living Soul And this Distinction is clearly implied in G. F's Great Mystery though unfairly quoted What 's more Explanatory being left out by this Adversary and more fully answered in my aforesaid Examination Entituled Truth and Innocency vindicated c. against the three Norfolk Priests and Bugg p. 7 8 9 60. That we are Sincere in our Profession of Christianity in what is contained in our said little Pamphlet as he calls it entituled The Christianity of the People called Quakers Asserted we are not Conscious to our selves of the contrary nor Convicted of any Insincerity therein by this Rector's or any others Invidious Essays or Attempts nor from any Instances which either he or his Brethren or F. Bugg have produced against us Nor are we Conscious to our selves of holding Tenets or Doctrines which are either directly opposite or contradictory to these he calls New Creeds if impartially cited and truly explained which they have not done in their Invidious Endeavours against us consequently we find no cause to Retract Censure or Condemn the Tenets or Doctrines which we hold and therefore his Charge of Horrid Blasphemies we reject as an odious Calumny proceeding from a Proud Envious Persecuting Spirit which the Lord will Rebuke Neither has he shewn from those Instances against us any such Horrid Blasphemies as he tells of but rather his own Perversions Ignorance and Envy The Lord deliver poor Souls from such Blind Guides that they may not fall into the Ditch with them For some of their Leaders the Priests especially those of them that are of an Envious Persecuting Spirit are the most Blind and Ignorant of the Mystery of Christ and of those things which pertain to his Kingdom FINIS
for it to be wrought within them by the Spirit and Power of Christ who is the great means and cause thereof so that if any seek the way and means of Salvation only without them and neglect Christ's Appearance and Light in them they miss their way though He who is the Great means obtained Eternal Redemption and Salvation without them and alone did tread the Wine-press which we believe and therefore the Rector's conclusions are false against us 1. That They i. e. the Quakers undervalue the Righteousness and Merits of Jesus Christ purchasing Salvation for us 2. That they Extol and Magnifie their own Righteousness and Works like to their Brethren in the Church of Rome p. 15. 3. That they exceed all the meritorious Boasts of those their Kindred in affirming that their Sufferings are Greater and more unjust than the Sufferings in the days of Christ c. I positively deny and Testifie against these Accusations as Notorious Calumnies to traduce and abuse the People called Quakers contrary to our Principle and Profession of Jesus Christ and that Glory Dignity and Preheminence we sincerely ascribe to him his Righteousness Merits Works and Sufferings And that 't is by his Grace through Faith we are saved not of our selves 't is the Gift of God not of Works lest any Man should Boast Ephes. 2. Our Confession of Remission of Sin and Redemption thro' the Sufferings Death and Blood of Christ and Faith in him c. Tho' this the Rector confesses seems to be very Orthodox yet he 'll needs have it still but Paint and Deceit p. 16. Thus uncharitable and incredulous he is of our plain and sincere Profession falsly inferring For Remission or Redemption through the Sufferings or Righteousness of another is not by them i. e. Quakers believed Which is false 't was none of the Question or Controversie between us and our former Opposers the Imputarians for what the Rector observes out of F. B's Works p. 33. already answered in the other Examination and W. P's Sandy Foundation p. 25 30 31. and Serious Apology p. 148. though very brokenly and partially as well as impertinently cited by the Rector p. 16 17. Yet 't is no ways intended to disbelieve or deny Remission of Sins or Redemption thro' the Sufferings or Righteousness of Christ Jesus But to refuse a Justification of impure and unsanctified Persons by an Imputative Righteousness according to W. P's Title of that part of the Controversie Sandy Foundation p. 24. or a justifying the Wicked and condemning the Just which they that do are Abomination to the Lord Prov. 17. 15. p. 24. Ibid. which is not to deny the real and true Imputation of Christ's Righteousness to them that are Sanctified and by Faith have a true Interest in Christ as partakers of his Righteousness and Holiness His Imputations or Reckonings being all True and Righteous if he reckons or esteems a Man Just he is really so I do not see that W. P. contradicts this Doctrine of Justification in his Primitive Christianity c. by his former opposing Justification of Impure Unsanctified or Impenitent Persons by an undue Imputation of anothers Righteousness which in that State they have no share in Who is that Blessed Man to whom God imputeth Righteousness c Rom. 4. 6 7 8. but the Man in whose Spirit is no Guile Psal. 32. 6. The Rector doubtless thinks he has put a learned and binding Question upon us viz. Why indeed should they believe Remission of Sins and Redemption through Christ's Sufferings and Justification by his Righteousness when as they believe themselves to be perfect as God and free from Sin p. 17. Answer 1st Where do we say all this of our selves as that we believe our selves to be perfect as God I would have the Rector produce plain Proof that we say this of our selves 2dly That Perfection of Freedom from Sin which we believe attainable in Christ it is not of our selves nor by our selves attain'd We do not pretend to make our selves Perfect or Free from Sin but by the Power and Work of Christ and his Righteousness by a true Faith in him who is manifest to take away and destroy Sin the work of the Devil and to save us from Sin 3dly Now suppose any true Believers in Christ Jesus his Name and Power should call to others and say Come and I 'll tell you what the Lord hath done for my Soul he hath redeemed my Soul he has taken away my Sins and blotted out my Transgressions and received me Graciously And thereupon such a learned Rector as this should Gainsay his Christian Experience by such a Question as this Why indeed should you believe your Soul is redeemed and your Sins are taken away and blotted out through Christ his Righteousness c. when you thus believe your self to be free from Sin To which he might easily Answer I did not make my self so I magnifie the Grace of God in Christ Jesus towards me what I am I am by the Grace of God The rest against preaching for Sin to continue term of Life p. 18. is opened in the Examination before And the Rector is sadly out and wants Rectifying in his affirming This Doctrine of Sinless Perfection being the approved Doctrine of the Quakers to be in Opposition to all Professors of the Christian Faith p. 18. The Man 's Egregiously out and mistaken in this last part The Doctrine of Sinless Perfection in Christ is a true Christian Doctrine and approved of by all true Believers who are in the Faith of Christ and Professers of the same such Perfection was both commanded and Promised of God and Preached by Christ and his faithful Ministry and effected by Christ in his true Believers and Followers who abide in him He that abideth in him Sinneth not I may here give a full recital of the Question and our Answer upon which the Rector has made his said Observations to prove the same still but Paint and Deceit which is proved to be but his own false Judgment Quest. Do you believe Remission of Sin and Redemption through the Sufferings Death and Blood of Christ Answ. Yes through Faith in Him as he suffered and dyed for all Men gave himself a Ransom for all and his Blood so Shed for the Remission of Sins so all they who sincerely believe and obey him receive the Benefits blessed Effects and Fruits of his Suffering and Dying for them They by Faith in his Name receive and partake of that Eternal Redemption which he hath obtained for us who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from All Iniquity He died for our Sins and rose again for our Justification And if we walk in the Light as he i. e. God is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another And the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1. 7. Quest. Do you believe and own the Divine Offices of Jesus Christ in his Church Our Answer is